While car makers
discourage any modifications by nulling at least part of the
warranty, many eager enthusiasts show how it can be done.

According to the
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), half the cars in the U.S.
are driven just 25 miles a day or less. "A
plug-in vehicle with even a 20-mile range could reduce petroleum fuel
consumption by about 60 percent," says Bob Graham,
Manager of EPRI's Electric Transmission program.
http://www.hymotion.com

Car
Makers View:

As the electric car
programs have shown, car makers do what they have to, but still
prefer to sell gas guzzlers and are happy to shred highly successful
electric cars once they do not have to provide them anymore (see
EV1).

The
objections to plug-in technology they raised for years -- "no
one is interested, no one would plug in, the benefits are minimal,
it's just shifting the pollution from the tailpipe to the smokestack,
there's no demand for these cars" -- still show up occasionally,
but are disprooven and by and large history. Car makers still
frequently claim that plug-in hybrids are "not yet viable”.

However the
Electric Power
Research Institute(EPRI) has shown that at
current prices the total lifetime cost of a plug-in Hybrid is lower
than that of a non-hybrid and not merely lower than that of a
conventional hybrid. http://www.epri.com/

Image on left:
Felix Kramer's PHEV charges at night (using cheap off-peak
rates); photovoltaic modules on his roof return electricity to the
grid in the daytime at a higher rate.

Advanced
Do It Yourself
Kits

The Electric Auto
Association's PHEV group is an open-source project to bring PHEV
conversions to '04-07 Prius owners across the country. Our goal is to
enable owners to enlist a local electrician /engineer to convert
their cars, initially with lead-acid batteries, for under US$6,000
and two person-weeks of time. If you're an engineer or an advanced
do-it-yourselfer who is comfortable around high voltage batteries and
automotive workshops, you can join the project! www.eaa-phev.org

B2a2_v9

Putting
a solar roof on your Prius – up to 20 miles/day on solar power

You won't be able to
cross the country in a solar powered Prius, but this type of
aftermarket hack is exactly the kind of thing so many of our readers
have been asking for. Solar
Electrical Vehicles
(http://www.solarelectricalvehicles.com/) says their solar panel
modifications (made from mono-crystalline photovoltaic cells) for
2004-2006 Prius models will generate 215 watts of renewable energy
that charges a 3kW supplemental battery pack that "provides up
to 20 miles per day of electric mode driving range and increased fuel
economy." SEV says their system qualifies for up to $2,000 worth
of Federal renewable energy tax credits which will then make the
whole system pay for itself in two or three years. A solar roof for
your Prius will cost between $2,000 and $4,000.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/05/31/putting-a-solar-roof-on-your-prius-go-20-miles-on-battery-powe/

Plug-In
Hybrids Are Cleaner - Even when using Electricity from Coal

The
"well-to-wheel" emissions of electric vehicles are lower
than those from gasoline internal combustion vehicles. California Air
Resources Board studies show that battery electric vehicles
emit at least 67% lower greenhouse gases than gasoline cars
-- even more assuming renewables. A PHEV with only a 20-mile
all-electric range is 62% lower
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/grnhsgas/isor.pdf

Two US government
studies have found PHEVs would result in large reductions even on the
national grid (50% coal). PHEVs will generally recharge at night
using excess power from base load power stations (eg coal) that can't
shut down completely -- so they don't add to the peak load. Plus more
people are installing rooftop solar photovoltaic systems.

Plug-in hybrids and
electric cars will also significantly reduce urban air pollution and
smog.

http://www.calcars.org/vehicles.html

PS:
The Fastest Electric Car

The Ohio State
University 'Buckeye Bullet', an electric vehicle designed, built, and
maintained by OSU students, reached 507 km/h on the 15th
October 2004 at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA.